Making History Current by Wanita May

By Julie Anne Lindsey, on November 14th, 2011

Making History Current

I love history – all of it. The famous people, the infamous ones, the real and make believe ones. Don’t get me started on architecture, furniture, clothing or jewelry – especially jewelry. I grew up with an appreciation for vintage things as my parents owned an antique store. I now own an online antique 7 collectables shop specializing in jewelry and porcelain. I married an very handsome Englishman who puts up with my need to see castles, monuments, historical buildings, museums, cities every time we go back to see his family, or on any holiday. It’s in me, in my bloodstream and inside my genetic make-up (DNA).

I write YA, mostly Fantasy/Paranormal YA. That doesn’t make history very relative for a story of today. However, it still gnaws at me and I feel the need to slip it into an MS – well, every MS actually – that I write.

So how does one make History current/relative to a YA story that is going to keep young adult readers interested?

In Rae of Hope – the first book in the Chronicles of Kerrigan – I used Tudor history – it’s a fascinating time, and everyone knows something about King Henry IIX. Guilder Boarding School, where the story is set in current time, was built by King Henry. The buildings are all original and I used Tudor architecture to name each building (eg. Joist Hall is the male dorms – where the male students can learn to lean into and support each other. There is a Refectory (where students eat, Aumbry Hall, an Oratory, Scriptorium, etc…)

The school was originally built and is continued to be used today as an educator for those who become tattooed (tatu) on their sixteenth birthday. The ink enables a person to have a unique ability/supernatural power that is based on the design of the ink-art. King Henry opened the school to try and find a way to get the legitimate son he so longed for.

There is also a Privy Council. It is the original PC that King Henry used, except consists of tatued individuals who swore to help protect the king and country. Which is still used present day in the series.

I’ve included so much more Tudor background to create the setting of the entire chronicles. While entertaining YA readers, I’m also able to show a bit of that inner DNA strain – and maybe even teach them a few historical terms or key events that helped mold things into what they’ve become today!

Rae of Hope is officially available November 15th by Mitchell Morris Publishing. It can be purchased through the usual online facilities (Amazon, B&N, Kobo, etc…)

Rae of Hope by Wanita May

Fifteen year-old Rae Kerrigan is used to being invisible. Living in New York with her Aunt and Uncle after having been orphaned at a young age by a terrible fire, her life has been quiet, filled with excellent grades and not much else. Then came the letter from Guilder Boarding School, a mysterious place Rae had never heard of which will change her life. She crosses the ocean to enter a world she’s never known existed, one where she’s center stage and has a very important role to play.

Will the sins of a father choose her path? Or will she have the courage to change her fate? The decision will be made, by fate or teen, in the Rae of Hope.

The question is, as hero or villain? It seems most of Guilder is voting the later, and it’s up to Rae to prove everyone wrong and bring hope to her world. But will she succeed, or will the shadows draw her in and swallow her whole?

About W.J. May

Wanita May grew up in the fruit belt of Ontario – St.Catharines. Crazy-happy childhood, she always has had a vivid imagination and loads of energy.

The youngest of six — four older brothers, and a sister – taught her at a young age to be competitive in all aspects of life.

At sixteen, she began competing in athletics (track and field) and before she turned seventeen, she was representing Canada in high jump. She continued to compete, breaking Canada’s JR High Jump record (1.92m – 6′ 3 1/2″ for those metric-ly challenged). She attented University of Toronto, and Kansas State University – winning CIAU’s and becoming All-American 6x – NCAA Indoors Runner Up + more.

After her father passed away in 2009, from a six-year battle with cancer (which she still believes he won the fight against), she began to write again. A passion she’d loved for years, but realized life was too short to keep putting it off.

Her first book, Rae of Hope – from the Chronicles of Kerrigan - is available Nov 15, 2001 by Mitchell Morris Publishing. It is currently scheduled for a four book series and available in ebook form through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Smashwords.

She is currently represented by Dawn Dowdle of Blue Ridge Literary Agency. Wanita is a writer of Young Adult, Fantasy Fiction and where ever else her little muses take her.

5 comments to Making History Current by Wanita May

Huge luck with your release, I wish you many, many sales! I didn’t realize you were married to an Englishman – have you visited the UK because of that? I live in South West England and as you love history so much, I recommend you visit Bath asap!

Hi Rachel!
Hubby is from Liverpool – his entire family is still over so we have been across the pond loads of times. Just not so much in the past 2-3 years with the kids being born and little Hope to be over again next year.
Have not been to Bath – definately need to make the trip!! We’ll catch up then as well!
Thanks for reading!
Cheers,
Wanita